Which handheld system first played the original Pokémon games?

The original Pokémon games were first played on Nintendo’s Game Boy. Pocket Monsters Red and Green launched in Japan for the monochrome handheld in 1996.

The Game Boy was important to Pokémon’s design because it included a link port. Two players could connect their systems with a Game Link Cable to battle or trade Pokémon, making collecting a social activity rather than a purely solo pursuit.

The original games were not designed first for the Game Boy Color, although later Pokémon releases used color hardware. Pokémon Yellow arrived in Japan in 1998 and used the Game Boy Color’s capabilities more prominently, while international Red and Blue versions also appeared on compatible hardware.

The Game Boy’s modest technology shaped the series’ visual style: sprites, tile-based environments, turn-based battles, and compact menus. Despite those limitations, the games established mechanics that remain recognizable across later generations.